Appointed by Governor (who names chair): John K. Chlada; Joseph P. Lewandowski; Roger I. Lyons; Norris McDonald; Nathaniel T. Oaks; Samuel Sanchez; Bonnie R. Wilson.
Appointed by Senate President: Joan Carter Conway
Appointed by House Speaker: James W. Hubbard
Maryland Association of Counties representative: John S. Mathias, Esq.
Maryland Municipal League representative: Cheyenne R. Watson
Ex officio: Jane T. Nishida, Secretary of the Environment; Martin P. Wasserman, M.D., J.D., Secretary of Health & Mental Hygiene.
Contact: W. Wallace Baker
c/o Office of Fair Practice
Dept. of the Environment
2500 Broening Highway
Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 631-3964
e-mail: mdefpo@charm.net
fax: (410) 631-3964
The Advisory Council on Environmental Justice was created in 1997 (Chapter 741, Acts of 1997). The Council is to examine and make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and State and local government units on issues and policies relating to environmental justice. The law defines environmental justice as "equal protection from environmental and health hazards for all people regardless of race, income, culture, and social class."
For communities whose health or environment are affected by State agency actions, the Council is to involve the communities in planning for environmental and economic enhancement; assess the impact of State policies and programs on those communities; and encourage public-private partnerships to address environmental justice issues. Also, the Council will work to increase efforts to integrate public health and planning for revitalization of communities; heighten the sensitivity of State and local officials to environmental justice issues; and promote fair enforcement of all health and environmental laws in disadvantaged areas with minority and low-income populations. In addition, the Council will assist in collecting data and analyze existing data on environmental justice; act as a clearinghouse for information; and develop interagency model projects on strategies for environmental justice.
© Copyright July 06, 1998 Maryland State Archives